Pullman Strike
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Printed: October 15, 2014
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C HAPTER
Chapter 1. Pullman Strike
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Pullman Strike
The Pullman Palace Car Company manufactured luxurious sleeper cars for trains. The company’s built a whole
town, Pullman, Illinois, to house its factories. Workers were forced to live there, to pay fixed rents, and to shop at
company-run stores. In the 1893 recession, Pullman lowered the wages it paid workers but not the prices it charged
them. In protest, the workers went on strike. To support their cause, the Eugene V. Debs’ American Railway Union
called a boycott of all Pullman cars, clogging rail yards. Eventually, a federal court ordered the ARU to end its
boycott, and the strike ended.
The strike was highly controversial. As you read the following newspaper articles from the Chicago Tribune and the
Chicago Times, try to determine which paper supported the business owners and which one favored the strikers. The
documents are paired—the first two show the newspapers’ differing coverage as the strike began; the second two
show coverage of the beginning of the boycott, and so on.
Chicago Times, May 12, 1894
Source: The following two articles were written the day after the strike began. One article is from the Chicago
Times, and the other is from the Chicago Tribune.
The strike of yesterday was ordered by a committee representing every department at the Pullman works. This
committee was in session all night Thursday night, and finally came to the conclusion to order a strike 4:30 o’clock
yesterday morning....
The position of the company is that no increase in wages is possible under the present conditions.... The position of
the men is that they are receiving less than a living wage, to which they are entitled.
PULLMAN MEN OUT
Nearly 4, 000 Throw Down Their Tools and Quit
Refuse to Work Till Wrongs are Righted
Firing Three Men Starts It
Almost the entire force of men employed in the Pullman shops went out on strike yesterday. Out of the 4, 800 men
and women employed in the various departments there were probably not over 800 at work at 6 o’clock last evening.
The immediate cause of the strike was the laying off of three men in the iron machine shop. The real but remote
cause is the question of wages over which the men have long been unhappy.
Chicago Tribune, May 12, 1894
PULLMAN MEN OUT
LAY OFFS THE CAUSE
Committeemen Laid Off and Their Comrades Act
Two thousand employees in the Pullman car works struck yesterday, leaving 800 others at their posts. This was not
enough to keep the works going, so a notice was posted on the big gates at 6 o’clock saying: “These shops closed
until further notice.”....
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The walk-out was a complete surprise to the officials.... Mr. Pullman had offered to allow the men the privilege of
examining the books of the company to verify his statement that the works were running at a loss. When the men
quit work at 6 o’clock Thursday evening none of them had any idea of striking.... But the Grievance Committee of
Forty-six held a session. . . until 4:30 o’clock in the morning.... One department at a time, the men went out so that
by 10 o’clock 1500 men were out... Only 800 came back after lunch....
Vocabulary
Grievance
complaint
Chicago Times, June 28, 1894
Source: The following two articles were written on the third day of the national railway boycott.
All the western half of the United States has begun to feel the paralysis of the American Railway Union’s boycott of
Pullman. At every important division point in the west, southwest, and northwest there are trains blockaded because
the American Railway Union men will not run them with Pullman cars attached. Some roads are absolutely and
utterly blockaded, others only feel the embargo slightly, but it grows in strength with every hour.
The six o’clock train on the Great Western started out with two Pullman sleeper cars and one Pullman diner. The
conductor rang the bell, the train stopped, the whole crew got down and cut off those three cars. The train pulled
out without the Pullmans. It was the most decisive thing the boycotters have done yet.
NOT A WHEEL TURNS IN THE WEST
Complete Shutdown of All Roads in the Territory Beyond the Missouri River
It May Be the Biggest Tie-Up in All History
Chicago Tribune, June 26, 1894
The American Railway Union became aggressive yesterday in its efforts to force a settlement between Mr. Pullman
and his striking employees. . . . Its freight service was at a standstill all day and the same is practically true of other
roads. In no case, however, did the strikers prevent the departure of any regular passenger trains from Chicago. . . .
Deb’s master stroke, however, occurred at midnight, when every employee on the Santa Fe belonging to the American
Railway Union was ordered out. Whether the men will obey the order will be learned today.
DEBS IS A DICTATOR
His Warfare on the Railroads is Waged Effectively
So far no marked violence has been attempted.... Chief Brennan says he has 2, 000 men who can be gathered at any
point inside of an hour.
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Chapter 1. Pullman Strike
Vocabulary
Dictator
leader with total power
Chicago Times July 7, 1894
Source: The two following articles were written after federal troops had been in Chicago for three days.
MEN NOT AWED BY SOLDIERS
MOST OF THE ROADS AT A STANDSTILL
Railway Union is Confident of Winning Against Armed Capital
Despite the presence of United States troops and the mobilization of five regiments of state militia, despite threats of
martial law and total extermination of the strikers by bullet, the great strike begun by the American Railway Union
holds three-fourths of the roads running out of Chicago. . . .
If the soldiers are sent to the southwest section of the city, bloodshed and perhaps death will follow today, for this
is the most lawless part in the city... But the perpetrators are not American Railway Union men. The people
engaged in this outrageous work of destruction are not strikers... The persons who set the fires yesterday are young
hoodlums. . . .
Vocabulary
Martial law
military law
Perpetrator
person committing an act, often a crime
Chicago Tribune July 7, 1894
YARDS FIRE SWEPT
Hundreds of Freight Cars, Loaded and Empty, Burn
Rioters Prevent Firemen from Saving the Property
The yards from Brighton Park to 61 st Street were lit on fire last night by the rioters. Between 600 and 700 freight
cars have been destroyed, many of them loaded. Miles and miles of costly track are in a snarled tangle of heattwisted rails. Not less than $750, 00−possibly $1, 000, 000 of property—has been sacrificed to the mob of drunken
Anarchists and rebels. That is the record of the night’s work by the Debs strikers.
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Chicago Times, July 15, 1894
Source: The following two articles were written as the strike was coming to an end. On July 10, Debs and other
American Railway officers were arrested for violating a court order. They were held for several hours until posting
$10, 000 bail.
President Debs then told the men the situation was more favorable than it had been at any time since the men went on
strike. He said that telegrams from twenty-five points west of the Mississippi showed that the roads were completely
tied up. Debs said, “I cannot stop now... I propose to work harder than ever and teach a lesson to those bigoted
idiots. The managers refuse to work for peace.”
DEBS SURE HE CAN WIN
Says the Battle is But Begun
More than 1, 000 railroad men held an enthusiastic meeting yesterday afternoon, the speakers were President Debs
and Vice-President Howard.
“There are men who have returned to their work, but they are traitors. We are better without them. We must unite as
strong as iron, but let us be peaceful in this contest. Bloodshed is unwarranted and will not win.”
Vocabulary
Unwarranted—unnecessary
Chicago Tribune, July 15, 1894
He said “The Northwestern will not be turning a wheel tonight.” At midnight every wheel on the Northwestern had
turned. The Northwestern people are inclined to look at Mr. Deb’s declaration as a huge joke. . . .
WITH A DULL THUD
The Strike Collapses with Wonderful Rapidity
DEBS’ WILD ASSERTIONS
He is Still Defiant While His “Union” Crumbles About Him
Eugene V. Debs’ statements were like the last flicker of a candle that is almost burned out. The men who first
answered his calls for help deserted him. Those who followed his banner of revolt and lost their positions also
denounced him. The very fabric of the American Railway Union was falling upon his head and support was rapidly
slipping from under his feet. . . .
Vocabulary
Rapidity
speed
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Chapter 1. Pullman Strike
Assertion
statement
Denounce
speak against
Section Questions:
1. What events does each entry focus on? How do the Chicago Tribune and the Chicago Times differ in the
details they emphasize?
2. What specific words does each newspaper use to describe the strikers?
3. Which newspaper do you think was more supportive of the workers? Which newspaper was more supportive
of Pullman?
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